ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 23 



as plainly seorclied, and devoid of the slightest sign of vegetation 

 within, as though it had burned up and out yesterday. This crater 

 point on Otter Island is the only unique feature of the place, for with 

 the exception of that low north shore before mentioned, where many 

 thousands of bachelor seals haul out during the season every year, 

 there is nothing else worthy of notice concerning it. A bad reef makes 

 out to the westward and northward, which I have indicated from my 

 observation of the rocks awash, looking down uj^on them from the 

 bluffs. Great numbers of waterfowl roost upon the cliffs, and there 

 are here about as many blue foxes to the acre as the law of life allows. 

 A small, shallow pool of impure water lies close down to the north 

 shore, right under a low hill, upon which the Russians in olden time 



EAST SHORE. 

 [Bearing west by compass, 3 miles distant.] 



posted a huge Greek cross that is still standing; indeed, it was their 

 habit to erect crosses on all the hills in those olden times. One of them 

 is standing at Northeast Point, on the large sand dune which I have 

 called St. .John or Cross Hill; and another one, a sound, stalwart stick, 

 yet faces the gale and driving "boorgas" to-day on Boga Slov, as it 

 has faced them for the last sixty years. Otter Island has, since my 

 return in 1872, had considerable attention in the Treasury Depart- 

 ment, owing to the fact that certain parties contended that it lies 

 without the jurisdiction of the law which covers and protects the seal 

 life on the Pribilof Islands. This survey of mine, however, settles 

 that question — the island is within the pale of law. It is a rock adja- 

 cent to and in the waters of St. Paul, and resorted to only by those 

 seals which are born upon and belong to the breeding grounds of St. 



Crater Pt. Cross Landing West Bluff 300 feet. 



PROFILE OF THE NORTH SHORE OF OTTER ISLAND (from steamer "s ancliorage, 



Zoltoi bay, St. Paul). 



[Bearing south by compass, 6 miles distant.] 



Paul and St. George, and I have never seen at any one time more than 

 three or four thousand "holluschickie" hauled out here. 



Walrus Island. — To the eastward, 6 miles from Northeast Point, 

 will be noticed a small rock named Walrus Island. It is a mere ledge 

 of lava, flat capped, lifted just above the wash of angry waves; indeed, 

 in storms of great power, the observer, standing on either Cross or 

 Hutchinson's hills, with a field glass, can see the water breaking clear 

 over it. These storms, however, occur late in the season, usually in 

 October or November. This island has little or no commercial impor- 

 tance, being scarcely more than a quarter of a mile in length and 100 

 yards in point of greatest width, with bold water all around, entirely 

 free from reefs or sunken rocks. As might be expected, there is no 



